Parsing Coachella 2013: Lineup highlights by genre

Thomas Mars of Phoenix in a 2009 performance at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.… (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles…)

How would you book a festival that, regardless of your decisions, was sure to sell out? Would you give the people what they want, or give them what they need?

Always the diplomats, those who slotted the 2013 Coachella Music and Arts Festival lineup, which was released on Thursday night, opted for a little of both.

But that’s not news. Goldenvoice, which owns and books the festival, has long pushed at the fringes of festival booking while delivering on its promise to present the world’s most engaging rock, dance, avant-pop, hip hop and legacy acts. Lest fans start questioning the expense and effort involved in attending, the Coachella powers must annually read the minds of its ticketholders and then prescribe the musical medicine best suited for them.

In 2013 more than in recent years, the lineup does seem more prescriptive. The demand among kids for a Lou Reed appearance, for example, is surely low; most only know him as the dude who muttered along with Metallica on "Lulu." But as the founder of the Velvet Underground, his influence on Coachella-style rock music can't be overstated, and twentysomethings who don't know this should.

Fans of digital rhythms may have missed thrilling sounds of Mexican Latin house beatmakers 3Ball MTY while focusing for the last few years on thumping progressive house; hopefully the mere appearance of their name on the roster is enough to nudge the curious to expand their tastes.

We've got a little under three months to start cramming for Coachella; below are a few tips on acts to watch, by genre.

It's a group of headliners that dwells as much on rhythm as on guitars, and will provide for many scream-along moments. Absent are many baby boomer acts -- most obviously the Rolling Stones. Rather, we get two different Nick Cave performances -- one with his Bad Seeds, another with his Grinderman -- and lots and lots of dance rock, including Hot Chip, New Order, Postal Service, the xx and La Roux.

A wave of new rustic folk acts will mosey in: the Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men and the Gaslight Anthem; legacy rock artists include the Violent Femmes (!), Johnny Marr, underground rock legend Sixto Rodriguez (star of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Searching for Sugar Man"), the Descendents, Social Distortion and, for fans of L.A.'s so-called "paisley underground," the Three O'Clock.

Perhaps most notable in the Coachella selection of rock is the decline of indie: yes, typical Pitchfork fodder is well represented in the work of Modest Mouse, Beach House, Grizzly Bear, Vampire Weekend and Grimes. But it's not overwhelmingly so.

There's so much rock here, in fact, that to encapsulate it is impossible. Keep checking back as we digest all this -- but in the interim start cramming on your Blur knowledge. They're way, way more than just "Song #2."

Electronic dance music: The offerings in the dance tents are fascinating this year, and suggest a concerted effort by Goldenvoice to steer away from superstar DJs in favor of a more cutting-edge roster. Yes, each year the festival offers such variety, but gone are the big thumpers of late -- bye-bye Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Tiesto and the like -- for more nuance.

Highlights include: Seth Troxler, who over the past few years has risen to become one of the world's most adventurous and respected beatmakers; DJ Harvey, whose Los Angeles "Sarcastic Disco" parties are the stuff of legend, and who over the course of his decades-long career has united many forms of dance music, including U.K. garage, New York disco and Detroit techno and electro, into thrilling mixes. Superstar dubstep producer Skrillex will bring his new project Dog Blood onto the pitch, and drum n' bass genius Roni Size will remind youngsters of his thrilling rhythms.

EDM has a long history, so much so that there's such a thing as legacy DJs, of which there are a lot to choose from. They include household name Moby and house-heavy name Paul Oakenfold; the brilliant minimalist Richie Hawtin will offer one of his entrancing sets of techno. And Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails will perform with his project How to Destroy Angels. No doubt his fans have already started strategizing how to get a front-row spot.